Prices - Internet prices are highly competitive because of lower operation cost and you can save on sales taxes by buying the diamond from another state.

Flexibility - Have the ability to have diamonds shipped to you where you can view them in the lighting conditions where they will be worn.

Diamond Buying - Tips

Question:
From where should I buy my diamond?

Answer:
You can buy your diamond from a bricks and mortar
jeweler down the street or with the invention of the internet, you can now buy
on-line from an internet jeweler. In any case, make sure the jeweler
is a member of the Better Business Bureau
and/or is a member of the BBBOnline Program, or customer satisfaction rating
companies such as Bizrate.

Question:
How do I know the diamond I paid for and received
is what the seller promised?

Answer:
Once you have made your selection, make sure you
obtain a grading certificate from the seller that you can use for
insurance purposes.

Furthermore, if you can, pay by credit card especially
if you do not know the seller personally. If for some reason, you are
not satisfied with the purchase, you can return the diamond without
difficulty due to the fact that the credit card company
has rules for the protection of the consumer. Secondly, since the jeweler is a member of the
Better Business Bureau, he
will be more inclined to accept the return. This is also true for internet jewelers who are on the BBBOnline
program.

To be certain that the quality of your gemstone
is as listed on the grading certificate, get a second appraisal. Do
not show the existing certificate to the appraiser.
If the second appraisal differs greatly in a negative way, you may
wish to obtain a third appraisal to break the tie. If the third appraisal verifies the second, return the diamond
and get your money back. If, however, the second appraisal verifies
the original grading certificate, then enjoy your diamond.

Question:
What should I look for when choosing a
diamond?

Answer:
Once you have established a budget, then you must
determine the characteristics of the gemstone that are most important to you
and juggle one with the other to determine the optimum combination. These gemological characteristics are:1) Carat
Weight,2)
Color,
3)
Clarity, and
4) Cut - proportion and shape

Diamond Buying - Tips

Continued

Question:
Should I buy the heaviest diamond I can
afford?

Answer:
Not always. Buying the heaviest diamond
you can afford does not mean you are getting something of greater worth. Sometimes, a smaller, properly proportioned diamond
has a greater value than a larger, improperly proportioned diamond,
and it may even look better - more brilliant and
alive. To illustrate this, take a diamond that weighs 1.1 carats and
is well-
proportioned with a diameter of 6.7 millimeters,
and compare it to a diamond weighing 1.25 carats that is improperly
proportioned with the same diameter of 6.7 millimeters.
The proportions of the heavier diamond are not as balanced as
those of
the lighter diamond, hence its brilliance and overall beauty will be diminished
and its market value will be less.
You will indeed have a heavier diamond, but it will not be of the
quality you deserve or desire.

Question:
How much should I pay for a diamond?

Answer:
Market conditions determine the per carat cost
of diamonds at any given time. You should first set a budget that meets your financial situation. A good rule of thumb
is from two to a maximum of three months salary.